Assessing the prevalence and knowledge of anabolic steroid use in male athletes in Al Madina Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia

Bandar D. Alrehaili; Samar F. Miski; Fahad M. Alzahrani

doi:10.15537/smj.2024.45.7.20240244

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Figure 1
- Sources of anabolic steroids acquisition.
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Figure 2
- Self-reported benefits of anabolic steroid use.
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Figure 3
- Self-reported adverse effects of anabolic steroids.
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Figure 4
- Self-reported adverse effects of anabolic steroids.

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Table 1

- The association between sociodemographic characteristics and anabolic steroid use.

Characteristics	Total (N=121) n (%)	Use of anabolic steroid		P-value
Characteristics	Total (N=121) n (%)	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	P-value
*Age*
18 – 23 y	68 (56.2)	23 (59.0)	45 (58.5)	0.91
24 – 29 y	26 (21.5)	9 (23.0)	17 (20.7)
30 – 35 y	11 9.1)	3 (7.7)	8 (9.7)
36 – 39 y	10 (8.3)	2 (5.1)	8 (9.7)
≥ 40 y	6 (5.0)	2 (5.1)	4 (4.9)
*Level of education*
School	39 (32.2)	11 (28.2)	28 (34.1)	0.80
Bachelor	73 (60.3)	25 (64.1)	48 (58.5)
Postgraduate	9 (7.4)	3 (7.7)	6 (7.3)
*Marital Status*
Single	96 (79.3)	34 (87.1)	62 (75.6)	0.014
Married	23 (19.0)	3 (7.7)	20 (24.3)
Divorced/Widower	2 (1.7)	2 (5.1)	0 (0.0)
*Location of current residence*
Urban	111 (91.7)	35 (89.7)	76 (92.7)	0.72
Rural	10 (8.3)	4 (10.2)	6 (7.3)	0.72
*Employment status*
Student	67 (55.4)	21 (53.8)	46 (56.1)	0.16
Employed	35 (28.9)	8 (20.5)	27 (32.9)
Unemployed	13 (10.7)	7 (17.9)	6 (7.3)
Self-employed	6 (5.0)	3 (7.7)	3 (3.6)
*Personal monthly income*
<1000 SR	67 (55.4)	25 (64.1)	42 (51.2)	0.30
1000 – 5999 SR	29 (24.0)	1 (2.5)	20 (24.4)
6000 – 9999 SR	10 (8.3)	1 (2.5)	9 (10.9)
10000 – 15000 SR	7 (5.8)	3 (7.7)	4 (4.9)
>15000 SR	78 (6.6)	1 (2.5)	7 (8.5)
*Smoking status*
Current Smoker	40 (33.1)	14 (35.9)	26 (31.7)	0.39
Non-smoker	68 (55.3)	19 (48.7)	49 (59.7)
Previous smoker	13 (10.7)	6 (15.3)	7 (8.5)
*Body mass index (BMI)*
Underweight (< 18)	11 (9.1)	2 (5.1)	9 (10.9)	0.70
Normal weight(18-24.99)	51 (42.1)	20 (51.3)	31 (37.8)
Overweight (25-29.99)	43 (35.5)	12 (30.7)	31 (37.8)
Obese (30-34.99)	16 (13.2)	5 (12.8)	11 (13.4)
*Total period of exercise*
< 1 month	43 (35.5)	16 (41.0)	27 (32.9)	0.42
1 – 6 months	24 (19.8)	5 (12.8)	19 (23.1)
7 – 12 months	13 (10.7)	3 (7.7)	10 (12.2)
> 1 y	41 (33.9)	15 (38.4)	26 (31.7)
*Frequency of exercise per week*
<3 times	42 (34.7)	16 (41.0)	26 (31.7)	0.41
3 – 5 times	79 (65.5)	23 (58.9)	56 (68.3)	0.41
*Time of daily exercise*
<1 hour	42 (34.7)	15 (38.4)	27 (32.9)	0.82
1 – 2 hours	70 (57.9)	21 (53.8)	49 (59.7)
>2 hours	9 (7.4)	3 (7.7)	5 (6.1)
*Following special diet*
Never	33 (27.3)	9 (23.0)	24 (29.2)	0.568
Rarely	19 (15.7)	5 (12.8)	14 (17.0)
Sometime	45 (37.2)	18 (46.1)	27 (32.9)
Always	24 (19.8)	7 (17.9)	17 (20.7)
*Using dietary supplements*
Never	58 (47.9)	18 (46.1)	40 (48.8)	0.51
Rarely	18 (14.9)	7 (17.9)	11 (13.4)
Sometime	22 (18.2)	9 (23.0)	13 (15.8)
Always	23 (19.0)	5 (12.8)	18 (21.9)

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Table 2

- Participants knowledge about anabolic steroids.

Questions	Correct answer	Correct (%)	Incorrect (%)	I do not know (%)
K₁ Using anabolic steroids requires medical assessments	Correct	77 (63.6)	17 (14)	27 (22.3)
K₂ Anabolic steroids must be prescribed by a physician	Correct	71 (58.7)	19 (15.7)	31 (25.6)
K₃ Treating a disease with anabolic steroids needs an accurate dose	Correct	80 (66.1)	11 (9.1)	30 (24.8)
K₄ Anabolic steroids are not safe	Correct	58 (47.9)	21 (17.4)	42 (34.7)
K₅ Misuse of anabolic steroids can cause long-term side effects	Correct	87 (71.9)	10 (8.3)	24 (19.8)
K₆ Anabolic steroids can cause infertility	Correct	68 (56.2)	16 (13.2)	37 (30.6)
K₇ Anabolic steroids can cause hepatotoxicity	Correct	60 (49.6)	22 (18.2)	39 (32.2)